Hi,

I run Windows XP on most of my machines except I have a few running Linux Simply because of drivers, gaming purposes, and other such matters I am forced to use Windows mainly. However, I have a question regarding one of my linux machines. I have a 500 MHz Celeron, 192MB SDRAM, old motherboard, 80GB HDD, DVD-ROM, 2 x 10/100 NICs, and 1 x 10/100/1000NIC. I am running FedoraCore2 and for this machine I am interested in setting it up as a small network file server so when I have LAN parties, users can connect to the machine and download all of the nesecarry game updates. However, I am debating how to do this. 99% of the computers will be running Windows (XP mainly but a few will be running 2000 or 98 I imagine). I am findign the best way to share a folder on Linux so that the user can either connect to my IP address or find my computer name in Network Places and browse all of the files and download the updates they desire. I have tried Samba Server a bit and it recognized in Network Places however I haven't figured out how to disable the authnetication like so a password and username isn't required when a user connects to Samba server, also the users run on more than one workgroup name so that wouldn't show up for all. I have looked into configuring Samba but have been unable to figure out how to do so properly so a username and password isn't required. I have also debated about simply setting it up as a FTP server so the users can simply connect anomonyously and do so but am unsure how to setup a FTP server in Linux. If anyone has any ideas regarding how to configure Samba server so no username/password is required, or have any tutorials and recommendations for how to setup a FTP server since I am unfamiliar with that aspect of Linux, or have any other ideas how I can simple share a folder contained of additional folders and files on a LAN and users can access it via IP address, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

You can setup public directories in Samba. Edit /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add this to its list of shares:

Alright, I will try it as soon as im done upgrading its hard drive and reinstalling FedoraCore2... Is there anyway they can access it in Samba other then viewing it in like Network Places or whatever? Like by simply entering the IP Address since not all the comps will be on the same workgroup? Thanks.

Under the [global] part of the config file, set workgroup = WORKGROUP

Your linux hostname will be your netbios name. Open /etc/hostname to see what it is or change it.

Windows users can type \\netbiosname in explorer to get a list of your shares. They can then simply open your public share and download what they need.

I recommend you advise your friends to upgrade off Win98. Samba has a habit of not working with non NT kernels.

Edit: yes, the share will show up under my network places under WORKGROUP

Thanks for your help I will try it out now. Do you know of any resources or tutorials for configuring samba server any further? I am just curious. Yes, 98 is a horrible OS and I advise all of my machines I repair for clients to make the upgrade, however with the LAN organization im part of I don't know many of the people and their system requirements are probably to weak to make the upgrade anyways.

Nah I never used sites... I just kind of like samba cause I use it to coordinate data sharing across Linux, Mac, and Windows. I think it's a fantastic tool, so I've kinda memorized a lot of its quirks.

Alright, thanks a bunch.

Alright, I got FC2 back up running now. I added the code to the bottom:

[Downloads]
path = /root/Desktop/Shared/Downloads
browsable = yes
read only = yes
writable = no
guest ok = yes

of the smb.conf

Under Global I have
[global]

workgroup = WORKGROUP
netbios name = dHV4

Most all of the rest of the code is commented out and I hadn't changed anything else than what you had stated. .. I have Samba running but then when I go to a Windows XP SP2 machine on my network and enter \\dHV4 or browse My Network Places it doesn't find the computer on the network....

Any ideas? The network is working sicne the comp can get online and when I go into my router settings I see the comp and its IP address but it has no host name assigned to it like the rest of my windows comops..... its a dlink router

any help would be greatly appreciated

When I just tried \\192.168.0.103 (the IP to the Linux box on the LAN) I was prompted with a default XP Message Box where the username and field are dimmed out but in the field it says 192.168.0.103\Guest and then the password field is empty... upon clicking ok the message box simply reappears..... any ideas? For none of my Samba activities do I care about a username or password... if that helps in the configuration of samba.conf

any ideas anyone?

First off, welcome to LQ. I hope you become a permanent part of the community here, like I've seen to become over time... heh

Here is some of the websites that have helped me with Samba. I have too many to list here... but this is just a few. If you want some more websites.. just hollar. ;-)

Good luck, because samba although simple in design, CAN be a bitch ;]

http://mercury.chem.pitt.edu/~sasha/...ticle177.shtml
http://www.linuxheadquarters.com/how...ng/samba.shtml
http://us3.samba.org/samba/docs/man/Samba-Guide/
http://www.geocities.com/arndike/samba_config.html

Something that I've just come across which I haven't had time to personally check out yet is this http://freshmeat.net/projects/vasc/
"VASC is a configuration fileset for Samba, the SMB implementation for UNIX systems. It includes automated logon scripts, profile directories, and other features."

You might try that out too.. seems like it'd be interesting to check out

thanks for those sites.... so I ditched the original samba.conf, but backed up the old one of course, and then made my new configuration be this so far:

[global]
netbios name = TuxServ
security = share
workgroup = mshome
server string = Get File Updates
wins support = no
[Downloads]
path = /root/Desktop/Shared/Downloads
browseable = yes
guest ok = yes
The machine i was

That is all I have for the configuration. Do you see any errors in there or anything that is added? When I launch samba server after saving that file I type \\TuxServ and then also tried its IP addres on my WinXP machine... but niether one was found... I notice the comp was set at localhost.localdomain ? I am unfamiliar with the linux settings for that do I have to change that or whatever? Also what are the printable and writable settings for samba? I imagine samba is so comps on the network can upload files to there and remove them? Any other tips for configuring network settings in FC2 or samba would be appreciated ty

Edit /etc/hostname and change it to TuxServ.

Also make sure you're restarting samba after you make changes to the config.

in etc folder I don't see hostname but I see hosts and inside there

127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost


Do I just change localhost or isnt this the proper file?

No, just add your hostname to the end of it. It should read 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost tuxserv

(Debian and Fedora work a bit differently )